Hay baler



W. VUTZ HAY BALER 1 March 3, 1953 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 8. 1949INVENTOR. W/L HELM VUTZ.

W. VUTZ HAY BALER March 3, 1953 Filed Jan. 8. 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEE'I 2I'll-Ill Ill 6 3 w M w INVENTOR. W/LHELM VUTZ.

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAY BALER WilhelmVutz, Goldwater, Ohio, assignorto Avco Manufacturing Corporation;Cincinnati, Ohio,- a'corporation of Delaware 1 Application January 8,1949, SerialNo 69,921

6 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to a baling machine and more particularly :toimprovements :inbaling machines of the type adapted for. baling hay andother similar materials.-

The invention is particularly. concerned with baling machines of :the itype which. includes a pick-up assembly, aibaler unit,.and a; conveyorsystem -.therebetween adapted to. deliver'hay or other materialirom thepickup assembly to the opening to the bale chamber; Thisitypeofmachineis adaptedito'mpickixup out material from the field and ldeliv'er such materi al, to the bale chamber. where cit isvcompressed:and securely bound into bales; Ini'suc'h machineatheamount ofmaterialtie'ditonthe-'bale;chamber 'in a given periodof time variesovera wide degree. Consequently; the rate of feedto thebale chamber opening.is not ,uniform;;and at certain times matting-Lof'the material andvblocking of the opening: to the :bale. chamber occurs. Specifically, inconventional machines the." material is not positively forced into-thebale chamber andunder certain conditions: of operation, for example,when" an. unusually large block of materialis delilvered to theubaleopening; the material is only partially fed: through the openingand intothe bale chamber with=consequent non-uniformity of thebale being formedand undesirable blocking ofthe entrance to the bale chamber.

An object of this invention is to provide-an improved :feed mechanismfor a baling machine whereby positivefeed ofmaterial into the balechamber is assured and jamming of the entrance to :the bale chamberprevented...

' Another object of.v this invention ,is to provide animprovedcut-offmechanismfor a baling machine whereby x-thatportion of the.materialextending in't0;.the'- bale chamber may becut on from thatportion ofthe materialfladjacent the bale chamber but external thereof,

Aparticular: object of this invention to provide abalingrmachine havingmeans. adapted to extend through and. be Withdrawn from the openingleading to the bale chamber whereby material-to be baled-is positivelyforced through theopening.andcompacted into the interior of the. balechamber.

Aiurther obiectof this invention isto provide 2 claims 1 taken in?conjunction with" the accompanying drawings iniwhichz J Fig; l is aperspective viewoii'a baling -machine embodying this invention;

Fig; 2 isa partially sectional sideielevation of the baling'machine ofFigalillustrating the :relative positions of the bale openinganddrumrwhen the bale plungeris in. its extreme forward position on itscompression stroke:

Fig.1 3. is a: partially sectional elevation of i the baling machine ofFig. 1 illustrating. theorelative positions of thebaleopening andidrumwhen the bale plungeris in a completely 'retracted position so thatmaterial may :be introducedainto the bale chamber;

Fig, 4 is a-planviewof thewplunger shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5'is an endview of'the'plunger -shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to -the drawings, Fig; 1 illustratesabaling mechanismhaving ,a pickupeassembly 0, a bale case 12; and-afeederonconveyorsystem. 14 therebetweemall supported for movement on -a wheeled axlelfihavingadrait tongue comprising elements l8 I and 20; The pickupassembly includes a conventional driven pickup drum 22 having spaced.collecting .fingers 24 thereon for cooperationwithstripper bars 26provided onthe forward end ofa feeder apron 28.

The feeder mechanism l4 comprises upper and lower conveyors 30and 32'respectively, a feed auger 34, and a drum-36 rotatablymounted on a pairof guides or supports 38which inturn ,are pivotally. mounted on shaft 49of conveyortfl. The conveyorstil and 3.2.! are adapteditoj discharge.into. bale case i2 through a feed opening 42 definedon' each side bywalls and 46, and bya back wall .48, provided for'cooperationwith drum36which is. mountedto float over the bale case opening 42. A plunger501s mounted within the bale case [2 and adaptedforreciprocating motionin a compressionchamber 12a (seeFigs. 2 and '3) being driven by a pairof connecting rods52pivota11y secured to bull gears '54""and156. A pairof links'58"'join'the'plunger50 andthe drum support 38 so that drum 36is raised-outof andisinserted into the bale chamber in-response toreciprocating motion" of the plunger! A scraper -travels'-With drum 36in its pivotal motionabout shaft lfi and prevents spillage" of materialoverwall AB -which otherwise might occur dueto rotation of l the drum;

Drum 36 is rotated ina counterclockwise-direction as viewed in Figs;-'2'and3 so thatthe bottom surface of the drum and the "top surface of theplunger cooperate todraw-2 inco'minge material away from feed conveyors=3 0 and 32%asthe plunplunger 58.

3 ger moves towards its compressive position. Drum 36 draws materialacross the upper surface of plunger 56 even when the adjacent surfacesof the drum and plunger are movingin opposite directions so that thedrum counteracts any tendency of the upper surface of the plunger tobunch material adjacent the ends of the conveyors when the plunger iswithdrawn from its compressive position.

Other features indicated generally in Fig. 1 include a bale tying meansmounted centrally on the bale case which includes a needle assembly 62,metering and tripping mechanism 64, driving and timing unit 66, and atwister unit 68. The needle assembly, metering and tripping, driving andtiming unit and twister unit do not in themselves constitute a part ofthis invention.

The baling machine is operated by power from a tractor (not shown)delivered to a gear box through a shaft H. The gear box is provided witha driven shaft 12 carrying a sprocket I4 and a pulley I6. Sprocket I4drivingly engages chain 82 which is also engaged with a sprocket 84secured to a transverse drive shaft 80. A pair of pinions 78 are alsosecured to shaft 80 in position to mesh with bull gears 54 and 56, thebull gears being secured to another transverse shaft 80a.

The pulley I6 is connected to drive the upper conveyor through a belt 86and pulley 88. The drive shaft of the upper conveyor 38 is provided witha pair of pulleys 93 and 92 to rotate the floating drum 36 and drive thelower conveyor 32 through the belt and pulley assemblies 94 and 96respectively. Drive shaft 98 of lower conveyor 32 is connected to feedauger 34 and has a pulley I06 connected to drive the pickup drum 22through a belt I02 and suitable pulley I04.

Figs. 2 and 3 are partially sectional views illustrating the two extremepositions of drum 36 with respect to bale chamber opening 42. In Fig. 2drum 36 is displaced in its extreme upward position when plunger is inits extreme forward position on the compression stroke. Thus, incominghay or other material being fed to bale chamber l2 through opening 42 ispermitted to pass from conveyors 3E! and 32 to the bale opening 42. Thismaterial will, of course, be disposed below drum 36 and above Nomaterial can enter the bale chamber I2 since the upper surface ofplunger 50 blocks 01f opening 42 from the interior of the chamber. Aknife edge I26 is fixed to the bale case adjacent one edge of opening42. This knife edge extends transversely of the direction of travel ofplunger 50 and cooperates with a series of knife edges provided on theleading edge of plunger 50 to cut off the material within the balechamber from that above opening 42 in a manner more particularlyhereinafter explained.

In Fig. 3, drum 36 is illustrated as extending through opening 42 intothe bale chamber when plunger 50 is in its fully retracted position.Thus, as plunger 50 is withdrawn from its fully extended positionillustrated in Fig. 3, drum 36 is positively pivoted about shaft 40 bymeans of linkage 58 connecting drum support 38 to drive rod 52. In thismanner, material disposed ing 42 and compacted into the interior of thebale chamber irrespective of any bunching or 4 matting of material aboveopening 42. Scraper 60, mounted on drum supports 38, travels with drum36 and effectively prevents undesirable spillage of material over thetop of rear wall 48 which otherwise might occur due to rotation of thedrum.

In Figs. 4 and 5 details of plunger 50 are shown. The plunger includes apair of vertically disposed slots I06 and I08 positioned in the plungerto be parallel to the direction of travel thereof. These slots are eachadapted to receive one of the spaced needles of needle assembly 62 whenthe bale is formed and tying thereof is to be accomplished. At suchtime, the needles extend up through the plunger slots from the bottom ofthe bale case and feed the binding wires to the twisting mechanism 68.After tying of the bale wires, the wires on the bale are cut from thefeed wires in the needles and plunger 56 is withdrawn from the balewhile the needles are still positioned within slots I06 and I08. Asshown in Figs. 4 and 5, a pair of doors H0 and H2 serve to close off theopen ends of slots I65 and 08 respectively. Springs III and H3 serve tokeep the doors in a normally closed position and at the same time permitopening of the doors upon contact of the doors and wire needles duringwithdrawal of plunger 56 from its compression position immediately aftertwisting of the bale wires to tie the bales has been accomplished. Aseries of knife edges H4, H6 and H8 are provided on the upper leadingedge of plunger 56 which, together with knife edges I22 and 124 providedon upper edge of doors H8 and H2, provide an effective cutting edgeentirely across the leading edge of the plunger. These knife edgescooperate with the knife edge I26 extending parallel thereto in order-tocut material in bale case I2 from that above the plunger and adjacentopening 42 on movement of plunger 50 towards the bale. Doors III) and H2serve to prevent the material to be compressed from entering the plungerslots on the forward stroke of the plunger and damaging the wire feedneedles within the slots. With the cutting edges described presenting aneffective continuous cutting edge entirely across the leading edge ofthe plunger and the bale chamber, all of the material in alignment withthe cutting edges is cut, irrespective 'of the transverse distributionof the material across the bale chamber opening. In the absence of acontinuous cutting edge entirely across the plunger considerablevibration and hammering was experienced upon reciprocation of theplunger. By combining the drum for positively introducing materialthrough the bale chamber opening into the chamber proper and providing acontinuous cutting edge entirely across the upper edge of the plungervibration was greatly minimized and smooth operation achieved.

It will be appreciated by those versed in the art that by use of thepresent invention matting of material introduced by the conveyors andjamming of the baler feed opening is greatly minimized. Further, withpositive introduction of the material into the bale case, a more uniformand compact bale is formed. With the plunger doors and cutting edgesdescribed, vibration and jamming of the needles in the plunger slots arepractically eliminated.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be appreciated that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereofas set forth in the appended claims.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 claim:

1. In combination in a baler, a compression chamber formed to define anopening through which material to be baled may be introduced into saidchamber, a pivotaily supported adjacent said chamser for swingingmovement towards away from the opening, means for maintaining a constantsupply material to be baled adjacent said drum, means for continuouslyrotating said drum whereby said drum feeds the material to the openingin said compression chamber, a reciprocatory plunger slidably disposedwithin said compression chamber, and means for swinging said drumtowards and away from the opening, said last named means beingsynchronized with the movement of said plunger whereby said drum ismoved to positively compact material through opening of said chain- =berwhile said plunger is remote from the opening, said drum being held awayfrom open-- ing by said last named means while said plunger advances tocompress the previously compacted material.

2. In combination in a baler, a compression chamber formed to define anopening through which material to be baled may be introduced into saidchamber, a plunger slidably disposed for reciprocation within saidcompression charm her, said plunger periodically obstructing the chamberopening during its reciprocation, a drum pivotally supported forswinging l'i'i0VB- ment towards and away from the opening, means forcontinuously providing material to baled adjacent said drum, means forcontinuously rotating said drum to feed the material from first namedmeans to the opening, the material accumulating above the opening whileobstructed by said plunger, and a link pivotally connected to said drumand said plunger whereby said drum may be moved towar .s and away fromthe opening in timed relationship with the reciprocation of saidplunger, the rotation oi said drum acting to feed material to theopening, drum being moved periodically by said link to positively forceaccumulations oi material through the opening into said chamber whilethe opening is unobstructed by said plunger.

3. In combination in a baler, a compression chamber formed to define anopening through which material may be introduced into said chamber,rotatable drum means adjacent the opening, means for rotating said drummeans to feed material to be baled to the opening, a plunger slidablydisposed within said compression chamber, means for supporting said drummeans for swinging movements towards and away from the opening, andmeans for imparting controlled swinging movements to said drum means tocarry it towards and away from the opening at predetermined times, saidmeans for controlling the movement of said drum means moving said drummeans periodically through the opening to compact the material to bebaled into said chamber in a positive manner while said plunger isremote from the opening.

4. In combination in a baler, a compression chamber formed to define anopening through which material may be introduced into said chamber,rotatable drum means adjacent the opening, means for imparting rotationto said drum means to feed material to be baled to the opening, aplunger slidably disposed Within said compression chamber, said plungerperiodically covering and uncovering the opening during its movements,means for swingably supporting said drum means for movement towards awayfrom the opening, means for imparting controlled swinging movements tosaid drum means to carry it towards and away from the opening in timedrelationship with the movement of said plun er, said means forcontrolling the movement or" s drum means moving drum means pc..odicallythrough the opening to positively compact the material to be baled intosaid chamber, and a scraper carried said drum supporting means forconfining the material as it is compacted into said chamber.

5. In combination in a baler, a compression chamber formed to define anopening through which material to be baled may be introduced into saidchamber, a plunger disposed for reciprocation within said compressionchamber, said lunger periodically obstructing the chamber opening duringits reciprocation, a drum, means for pivotally supporting said drum forswinging movements towards and away from the opening, means forcontinuously rotating said drum to feed material to the opening, thematerial accumulating above the opening While obstructed by plunger, anda link pivotally connected to said drum and plunger whereby said drum ismoved towards and away from the opening in timed relationship with thereciprocation of said plunger, said drum being moved periodically bysaid link. to positively force accumulations of inaterial through theopening into said champ-e1 while the opening is unobstructed by saidplunger.

6. In combination in a baler, a compression chamber formed to define anopening through which material to be baled may be introduceitl intochamber, a plunger siidabiy d pose i'or reciprocation within saidchamber, said plunger periodically obstructing the chamber open n duringits reciprocation, a drum, means p *osa =y supporting said dr formovement towards an: away from the opening, means for rotating drum tofeed material to the opening, and a l: for transferring motion from saidplunger to drum whereby said drum is moved towards and away from theopening in timed relationship with the reciprocation of plunger, saiddrum being moved periodically by said link to positively forceaccumulations of material through the opening into said chamber whilethe opening is unobstructed by said plunger.

WILHELM VUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 301,398 Slauson July 1, 1884665,191 Davidson Jan. 1, 1901 865,614 Schubert Sept. 10, 1997 967,654Tuttle Dec. 22, 1998 1,090,137 Dain Mar. 17, 1914 2,362,861 Russell Nov.14, 19%

2,345,715 Reed Apr. 4, 1944 2,394,996 Hill Feb. 19, 19%

2,477,795 Gehl Aug. 2, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 863,735France Jan. 6, 1941 873,929 France Apr. 13, 1942

